1To go up, climb, or ascend under one's own effort, e.g., up a mountain, stairs, or slope. Also written 登る.
週末に友達と山に登った。
I climbed a mountain with my friends over the weekend.
エレベーターが故障して、階段を上るしかなかった。
The elevator was broken, so I had no choice but to go up the stairs.
猫が木に登って下りられなくなった。
The cat climbed up the tree and couldn't get down.
ゆっくり坂を上ると、海が見えてきた。
As I slowly went up the slope, the sea came into view.
2To rise as a natural phenomenon, as the sun rises or smoke and steam go up. Often written 昇る for the sun.
太陽が東の空から昇ってきた。
The sun rose from the eastern sky.
鍋から白い湯気が昇っている。
White steam is rising from the pot.
遠くの山から煙が昇っているのが見えた。
I could see smoke rising from a distant mountain.
3To go up to the capital from the provinces; used in historical contexts or as a formal equivalent of "to go to the capital."
平安時代、多くの貴族や役人が京に上った。
In the Heian period, many nobles and officials went up to the capital.
彼は職を求めて都に上ったという。
It is said that he went up to the capital in search of work.
4To be promoted; to rise in rank or position. Written 昇る for this sense.
彼は今年、部長の地位に昇った。
He rose to the position of department head this year.
実力で重要なポストに昇った。
She rose to an important post on her own merits.
5To total or amount to (a large figure); used in the pattern "~に上る."
今回の被害総額は数億円に上った。
The total damage this time amounted to several hundred million yen.
イベントの参加者は延べ一万人に上った。
The total number of event participants reached ten thousand.
6To go up in price or value; used when prices, temperatures, or figures rise.
原油の価格が大きく上った。
Crude oil prices went up significantly.
昼を過ぎると気温がぐんぐん上った。
After noon the temperature rose rapidly.
7To swim or travel upstream, against the current of a river; used of fish or boats.
秋になると鮭が川を上って産卵する。
In autumn, salmon swim up the river to spawn.
小舟が静かに川を上っていった。
A small boat quietly made its way up the river.
8To come up as a topic or item on the agenda; used in expressions like 話題に上る or 議題に上る.
その計画は次の会議で議題に上る予定だ。
That plan is scheduled to come up on the agenda at the next meeting.
最近、その俳優の名前がよく話題に上る。
Lately that actor's name often comes up in conversation.